Can-opener



C. E. HOLMES.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1918.

1,361,859, Patented Dec. 14, 1920..

Fzgt4 7 IN VEN TOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLYDE E. HOLMES, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

CAN-OPENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE E. HoLMns, a citizen of the United States, residin at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and. tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereb declare the following to be a full, clear, an exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers. One of the objects of my in- 'ventionis to produce a can opener which can be folded together into a compact'space, so that it may be stored in the pocket of a garment, even in the vest pocket.

Another object of my invention is to produce an article of the class described, whose knife will be so retired when the apparatus is folded up, that there will be no danger of injuring either the person of the handler or the receptacle in which it is housed.

Another object of my invention is the production of a device of the class described, in which the danger of injuring the hand or other part of the person of the user is reduced towia minimum when the apparatus is extended in condition to be used, or is being used.

I also aim to increase the cutting stroke of the can openers now in use, to such an extent that the can may be opened with fewer strokes of the opener. This reduces both the time and effort required to open the can.

Another object ofimy invention is the provision of improved means for holding the knife of the can ope'ner on a more even course, so as to eliminate or reduce to a minimum the teeth or burs that occur where the cuts made by the strokes join, so that after the operation, the edge will be even or substantially even.

These and other objects of my invention, aswell as the mode of operation thereof, will be apparent from a description of an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of my invention, 'in operation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the parts folded in position and adapted to be stored in the pocket or other space; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

hFig. 4 illustrates detailed views of the s oe.

Referring now to the drawing and to the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein, at 5 is shown the shank of the dev ce. The front end of the shank is provlded with an opening (not shown) through which a pin 6 extends, pivoting a shoe 7 upon the end of the member 5. The end of the shank 5 is cut away, as shown at 8, to permit the shoe to be folded to the position shown in Fig. 3, and to provide room for the side of the shoe. The shank 5 is preferably made of a piece of relatively heavy sheet material, substantially rectangular in form and provided with a second opening (not shown) 'to which the knife 9 is pivoted by a pin 10.

The knife 9 is hook-shaped, having a shank or prong portion 11 and a knife or bill portion 12, provided 13, which extends all along the inside of Patented Dec. 14, 1920. Application filed July 27, 1918. Serial No. 246,954.

with a cutting edge the part 12 and part way along the shank part 11. At the other end of the shank 5 a dagger 13 is formed and which is adapted to be used to puncture the wall of the can to be opened for the first insertion of the point 14 of the bill.

The handle is shown at 15 and consists of a loop of sheet metal. The ends of the loop are pivoted by a in 16 to the shank 5 adjacent the dagger. ne side of the handle is provided with an opening 17, so positioned that when the device is opened into operative position, a lug 18 on the shank 5 will engage the bottom of the gap 17 and prevent the handle from rotating further upon the pin 16. These parts are so arranged that the shank and handle cannot be folded, in the direction opposite the arrow A, beyond the position shown in Fig. 1. I prefer to form the lug by turning up a part of the shank, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

A corkscrew 20 may be pivoted to the shank,

as shown at 21. he arrangement of the parts of my can opener permits me position shown,

' pin 6 extends.

off at right angles to the part 31, so that the corkscrew is normally extending along the edge of the shank 5, as illustrated in Fi s.1and2.

he shoe 7 may be made of a piece of sheet metal. The sole of the-shoe is shown at 71 and is adapted, when the can opener is in use, as shown in Fig. 1, to engage the side 32 of the can. The shoe is provided with a catch 72, which in the embodiment illustrated is in effect two separate catches 73 and 74. These catches are formed by turning over the top ofthe sole 71 and are adapted when the can opener is being used to fit over the rand 33 on the top of the can, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in the drawing, the shoe is provided with means for connecting it to the member 5, here formed by turning back a portion of sheet metal 75 along the back of the sole 71 and extending, at right angles therefrom, a hand 76 which is perforated and through which perforation the As shown in Fig. 1, the handle may be so formed as to be employed as a litter for bottle caps. At 40 is shown a recess in one side of the handle having a reentrant part 41. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this ma be formed on both sides of the handle. 'lhese recesses are formed on the side of the bandle opposite the gap or recess 17, so that the full length of the can opener may be utilized in prying loose the top from the bottle or other receptacle.

The operation of my device is as follows:

When it is desired to open a can with my can opener, the side wall of the can is first perforated, as by sticking the dagger 13' through the wall thereof. The can opener is then extended so that the parts are in, or substantially in, the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The shoe is placed with the catch over the rand on the edge of the can, and the sole against the side of the can. The end of the bill is stuck through the opening formed by the dagger and the parts, excepting the shoe, are rotated about the pivot 6 in the direction opposite the arrow A. As, the parts rotate, the part 9 rotates upon its pivot 10, the knife all the time cutting the side of the can. WVhen the can opener has been rotated in the direction opposite the arrow A, as far as possible, it is moved back and the shoe slipped around the side of the can.

Owing to the double pivot arrangement,

I at 6 and 10, the stroke is materially increased and the cutting is distributed along the entire knife 13. Each part of this knife cuts each time the opener is operated. This is of considerable advantage, because it prolongs the life of the can opener, it being well known that in devices as cheap as can openers, it is cheaper to buy a new one than it is to sharpen an old one. The can openers at present in use, and which are at all practical, are so constructed that most or all of the cutting falls upon a short blade, or a short part of a blade, which is, therefore, soon dulled. lVhen it is desired to fold my can opener, the knife part is folded in so that t 1e point of the blade is adjacent the shoe, and then the handle is-folded down, as illustrated in Fig. 3, protecting the point and preventingits catching in the walls of the pocket or other receptacle in which the can opener may be stored. Danger to the person of the user is greatly reduced by the form of blade used, since the cutting edge is within the hook, and, therefore, protected by the hook itself. This protection is evident even when the can opener is in extended position, or when being used.

It will also be seen that my can opener is cheap and conveniently made, nearly all the parts being made of sheet metal and being stamped out and formed with few operations. The nature of the shank 5 employed and the arran ements of the parts connected thereto faci itate the use of the corkscrew and provides a convenient place for its mounting, so that it may be conveniently stored when not in use in such a position that it is not liable to catch upon the clothing or other objects with which it is associated, and when in use it may be conveniently driven or withdrawn.

The handle is so constructed that the bottle lifting means can be conveniently formed venient place for the bottle lifter and corkscrew, without in any way impairing the effectiveness of the can opener itself or interfering with the useful functions of the can opener, which I have named, or which are apparent from the structure itself and the description thereof.

I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, and the details thereof, for the purpose of better describing the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is not limited to this particular embodiment and to its details, but that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of the invention.

oted thereto, a hook knife pivoted to the shank andcooperating sto members on said shank and handle adapte to prevent rotation away from said knife beyond a predetermined position.

2. In can openers, a shank, a handle pivoted thereto, a hook knife pivoted to the shank and cooperating sto members on said shank and handle adapted to prevent rotation away from said knife when the handle is substantially in line with the shank.

3. In can openers, a shank, a hook knife I pivoted thereto, a loop handle pivoted to one end of said shank and adapted to rotate over said knife in closed position, and stop members on said shank and handle adapted to prevent rotation away from said knife when the handle is in open 'tion.

4. In a can opener,' a andle member, means secured to handle member ada ted to be slidably carried by the rand of t e can, with said handle member constantly in a plane at right-angles to the axis of the can, and a hook knife secured to said handle, said hook knife and said handle being pivotally secured to the said slidable means, said hook knife being independently pivoted to said handle member, said hook knife being adapted to cut the side of the can when the said handle is oscillated on its pivot.

5. In a can 0 means secured to ner, a handle member, andle member adapted to be slidably carried by the rand of the can, with said handle member constantly in a plane at ri ht-angles to the axis of the can, and a hoo knife secured to said handle, said hook knife and said handle being independently pivoted to said handle member, said hook knife being adapted to cut the side of the can when the said handle is oscillated on its pivot, and the ivot connecting the said hook knife and tlih said handle being so placed on the said handle with re spect to the other pivot that when the handle is rotated to cause the knife to cut the side of the can, that the knife will be also rotated tocontinuously present different portions of the knife cutting edge to the side of the can adjacent to said rand. 6. In a can opener, a handle member, a hook knife pivotally supported on the Said member, the support being pivotally connected to the said handle member at only one end thereof, said support being so formed as to be slidably held on the rand of a can, said knife being carried relatively near the same end of the handle member and adapted to present a cutting edge to the side of the can adjacent to the said can rand, said knife being adapted to enter a prepared perforation in the said can side and to cut the top entirely off the can when the handle is rotated on its support. e

7. In a can opener, a handle member, a hook knife pivotably supported on the said member, the support being pivotally connected to the said handle member at one end thereof, said support being so formed as to be slidablyheld on the rand of a can, said knife being carried relatively near the same end of the handle member and adapted to present a cutting edge to the side of the said can adjacent to the said can rand, said knife being adapted to enter a prepared perforation in the can side and to cut the top entirely off the can when the handle is rotated about its support, said knife being adapted to rotate on its pivot when the handle is rotated on its support whereby a new cutting edge is constantly presented to the metal of the can being cut.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntosi ed my name this 24th day of July, 1918.

CLYDE E. HOLMES. 

